“There’s a special pension that was set up for the prime minister; I am not taking it,” he said.

On Monday MPs agreed to hand over responsibility for setting their pension to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) and agreed that contribution rates should rise in line with other public sector workers.

Sir George Young, the Leader of the Commons, said the government-backed move was necessary to prevent public anger being directed towards MPs.

"I think it is quite right that the House should make it quite clear to our constituents that we expect to be treated no differently to others in the public sector when it comes to the determination of our pension contributions," he told MPs.

The move was supported by Labour's newly appointed shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle who said it was "important that we are not seen to be exempting ourselves from the changes that are required".

But some MPs were unhappy at the decision to tie Ipsa's hand in determining the contribution they should make.

Labour backbencher Brian H Donohoe said the government should not be interfering with the independent decisions of Ipsa.

"I see no reason why the House should indicate that it would like our pension contributions to be treated in the same way as those of other public service workers.

"Ipsa has a statutory duty to act independently of parliament, and by giving such an indication, the House is putting undue pressure on Ipsa. It should not be influencing Ipsa in that way."